Studies have
shown that patients who consume a high protein, low carb diet have less hunger
as they go through their weight loss process.Proteins seem to suppress hunger and cravings.Carbohydrates and sugar on the other hand
seem to stimulate hunger and cravings.Another
reason why physicians recommend higher levels of protein during the active
weight loss phase of a diet is that during rapid weight loss many individuals
tend to lose lean body tissue including muscle mass along with fat and water
loss, which results in a reduce metabolic rate since muscle mass determines in
a large part our basal metabolic rate or the rate at which we burn calories at
rest.This loss of lean body tissue
which often happens with rapid weight loss where adequate protein intake and
resistance exercise is not part of the active weight loss treatment program
will often result in patients actually regaining more weight than they lost
from the diet because their metabolic rate is lower after the diet than before
the diet.So it is very important that
during the active weight loss phase of your weight loss program that adequate
protein intake and resistance exercise is integrated into the program to
preserve lean body tissue and basal metabolic rates to prevent this potential
complication and weight regain effect.

In some
weight loss programs called VLCD (very low calorie diet) the protein to
carbohydrate ratio may be 2:1, but in most cases bariatric (weight loss)
physicians recommend a 1:1 ratio of protein to carbohydrate during the active
weight loss phase.In these diets
patients aren't actually taking in any more protein than they would normally,
they are simply reducing their carbohydrate levels to meet the 1:1 ratio.

Patients
over time develop 'taste fatigue' by consuming only animal based proteins and
choose to utilize proteins in supplemental forms such as protein shakes and
bars which can deliver the protein in a very palatable and efficient form.Protein supplements are the cornerstone of
most physician supervised weight loss programs and have been found to help
patients stay compliant to the high protein demands of weight loss programs to
achieve greater overall weight loss.

For bariatric
surgical patients the emphasis is on 'protein first' that is, patients are
encouraged to get adequate protein into their diet before they consume any
other foods. Lap-band patients are
encouraged to consume 45 grams of supplemented protein daily and those who
undergo gastric bypass 60 grams of supplemented protein daily before the eat
any other food. These patients are also
at risk for vitamin and mineral depletions which must be supplemented along
with adequate protein supplementation.

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